BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Even during the most difficult season of his career, Detroit Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood continues to scale the NHL's career victory charts, passing friends, idols and legends along the way.

On Monday, Osgood pulled even with former teammate Dominik Hasek for 10th place, recording his 389th win as the Red Wings defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 at HSBC Arena.

Marian Hossa scored two goals, giving him 40 for the season, and added an assist to support Osgood, as the Red Wings have put together two solid defensive performances following a three-game losing skid.

Osgood noted the irony of tying Hasek in the city where he excelled for many years.

"It's pretty cool, in the place where Dom had three unbelievable seasons, (two) MVPs," Osgood said. "It's a great honor for me to be mentioned with a goalie of his stature. To do it here, is a little more special for me, a place where he played a lot of games."

Osgood said Hasek is among the three best goalies in the modern era, with Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur.

"Dom dominated for three years and was the best in the world," Osgood said. "Dom kind of changed goaltending (with his unconventional style)."

Osgood needed to be sharp early, when the Red Wings were predictably flat. The Sabres outshot them 9-2 at one point and held a 14-10 shots advantage after the first period.

"First 10 minutes on the road, especially (playing) back-to-back (days), you always need to get your legs going," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "The first period was exactly what we wanted. Just get through the first, don't commit hockey suicide."

Brad Stuart snapped a scoreless tie by scoring on the power play at 18:41 of the second period. He beat goalie Ryan Miller with a blast from just inside the blue line, as Tomas Holmstrom (two assists) provided a good screen.

It was Stuart's first power-play goal in 74 games with the Red Wings. He rarely sees time on the power play, but got one shift because Brian Rafalski is out with a groin injury.

"Stewie can really shoot the puck, and yet we don't play him on the power play," Babcock said. "Every once in a while, maybe we should."

Said Stuart: "It's easy if you keep it simple, don't try to do a whole lot. I just tried to shoot the puck and Homer was where he always is. I don't think the goalie saw it."

Hossa scored just 36 seconds into the third period to make it 2-0. During four-on-four play, Hossa cut in front of the net and backhanded in the rebound of a shot by Nicklas Lidstrom. Hossa made it 3-0 at 9:17, converting a pass from Pavel Datsyuk. Hossa, Datsyuk and Holmstrom, who formed the club's most potent line earlier this season, were reunited two games ago.

Hossa reached the 40-goal mark for the third time in his career (he scored 45 with Ottawa in 2002-03 and 43 with Atlanta in 2006-07).

"Obviously, it's a nice milestone," Hossa said. "It shows I'm playing with great players and they give me the puck, lots of great passes from them."

Paul Gaustad scored Buffalo's lone goal at 9:54 of the third period. Lidstrom sealed it with an empty-net goal in the final minute.

The game got heated late in the second period, when the Sabres took exception to a hit by Valtteri Filppula. In the scrum that ensued, Jonathan Ericsson landed on top of Drew Stafford and got in a few punches. It was Ericsson's first NHL fight.

His teammates have showed similar resolve the last two games.

"We wanted to play solid without the puck, solid in our own end," Lidstrom said. "It was pretty much playoff kind of hockey games."